Three days later Harold and his family was about to leave, they had finished all their ‘talks’ and arrangements regarding reinforcing defenses against rogues for all the Packs in Quebec & Ontario; since Harold's farther was an Alpha, they couldn’t stay away from their own Pack for too long either hence why Andrew and his family was staying.

Refusing to let go of Aegis, Harold kept hugging her.

“I’m going to miss you Ae!” He refused to let go; she was still sniffing, her silent crying preventing her from saying a word as she just shook her head. But it was time and so Harold was ‘forced’ to get into the car.

Alpha Gaius was there, silently and discreetly eyeing Aegis after seeing no mark on Aegis’ arm, initially surprised; she really did heal fast! The last time his son fought with his Beta’s son the boy took at least three days to heal and that is considering he was older then than the girl is now… And he was one of them… She’s just a ‘normal’ Beta…

…

It has been near eight months since Aegis and her family made the temporary move to help in securing the borders of Alpha Gaius’ pack as well as going around to other nearby Packs and helping them with preventative measures against rogue attacks. He wasn’t the only one, a few other Packs had sent some of their wolves too to help secure the safety of the other Packs. The Black Stone Pack after all was one of the most respectable Packs in the country and everyone wanted to be on their ‘good’ side, incase they ever needed their help in the future.

“Aegis Scarlet Rouge!” The Delta bellowed when the girl got distracted again, eyeing a colony of busy ants. The other ‘children’ all laughing at her being caught and scolded yet again. By now it was common knowledge that Aegis and their future Alpha had a particular 'hate-love' relationship - always 'fighting'.

“I know how! It’s him tat need to pwaktis!” She pouted, pointing out to Cas as the reason they were all still practicing the same routines that were starting to bore her.

“Then why don’t you tell… better yet, show him how to do it right?” The Delta smiled calming himself; truly the girl was a handful, perhaps more so than his Alpha's son! One boy, the future Beta smirked enjoying the unfolding scene before him, he couldn't agree more and who better to put the Alpha pup in his place than an even smaller and more insignificant pup such as Aegis?

“Cas, you weed to ben your wee!” She scolded and then proceeded to demonstrate, all the while the other pups were snickering because of her words, if there was one good thing about having the girl there it was that she brightened everyone’s day at her own expense.

Her left foot pointed slightly out she raised her right leg, keeping her upper leg horizontal with the ground and all while her knee was bent down to make an almost ‘h’ shape, her left knee also ever so slightly bent to help with her balance, as she went to twist her body her left side turning to point to the ground, she continued to slowly pivot on her left foot turning it until her toes pointed backward and all the while she raised her right leg until her foot was in Cas’ face.

“See!” She grinned joyfully that she was able to get it right before him. Furious, the boy stormed off, the Delta just shaking his head.

“Ben, why does Cas hate me?” The girl looked up at the Delta, upset that Cas kept getting mad at her. She had even apologized for hitting him the first day they met. The smirking young Beta rolled his eyes, this routine as much as he liked seeing the two bicker it was starting to become a drag.

“You’re all dismissed.” The Delta said eyeing the pups who were all getting antsy, wanting to go play, but he held his hand on Aegis shoulder…

“He doesn’t hate you Aegis, he’s just upset that you caught up to him so soon. He’s jealous!” The Delta tried to reassure her.

“I dwont like jelies, it’s mean! I miss Har-ow!” She shouted and made a run for it, not wanting to be seen crying again. 

“Darn pups are going to be the death of me!” Ben complained.

When night fell Aegis had yet to return home, her brothers couldn’t find her at any of her ‘favorite’ spots after she had ran away from training with Ben. At first they didn't think much of it when they saw her run away, there was only so far that she could go, and it wasn't the first time.

“Aegis!” Andrew called, Aiden the older twin was with him, while his brother went to look for Aegis with their mother, Vanessa. Valerie staying put at their ‘home’ in case Aegis came home.

“What happened?” Cas asked Ben when he saw Aegis’ family.

“I don’t know.” But he went to ask Andrew what had happened, since it seemed like the Beta was in a panic.

“Ben have you seen Aegis, she hasn’t come home, and we can’t find a single trace of her scent!” Andrew asked worried.

“No, I thought she went home.”

“Dammit!” Andrew sighed. Cas bit down on his lip, fidgeting with his hands.

“I’m going home! I hope she stays gone!”

“Ca… Dammit is right! Those two are like oil and fire!” Ben frowned.

“Let me help you find her.” They continued searching for more than an hour!

…

Cas ran, he ran towards the school, it was their Pack’s – only for Werewolves. As soon he reached the gates he could hear a sweet voice humming, following the sound he came to the playground and saw Aegis sitting on the swing.

“I’m sorry I bit you. And I’m sorry I keep getting upset with you.” She stopped humming, startled to find Cas there, she looked at him, scowling with red bloodshot eyes, she had been crying this entire time… It shot a pang of guilt in his heart seeing her like this...

“Please go home? Your dad’s looking for you, he’s really scared.”

“Tis is not my home!” She snapped at him and started to cry again. Cas’ shoulders dropped, disappointed... For more than just that he made her cry all over again.

Not knowing what to do he did the only thing he could think of first - recalling his mom hugging him, it always made him feel better when he was angry. He always seemed to be so angry. His mother... he missed her... 

Folding his arms around her from behind, he laid his chin on her head.

“Please don’t cry… I’m sorry…”

“I wanna go home…” She sniffed, he felt her shoulders jerk up every time she hic-upped. When it didn't seem to cease, he let go of her and walked in front of her, pulled her into a comforting hug, burying her head in his shirt.

She continued to cry like that until she fell asleep with him patting her back ever so gently.

“Why’d you have to go and accept such a weakling as a mate?” He whispered in her ear, knowing she was fast asleep and would not hear him. Jealousy raging inside of him at the thought of her and Harold playing 'mates'.

“I’d make a better mate than him, I’ll be a hundred times a thousand times better than him! I can mark you right now too...” Cas hissed and quickly took a deep breath to calm himself down, his mouth by her neck... He quickly let go of the notion. 

“Come on I’ll take you back.” He turned around, careful not to let her fall, knelt down and picked her up onto his back and headed straight towards her ‘home’.

“Aegis!” Vanessa and Andrew shouted, the relief in their voices washing away all their worries.

“Where did you find her?” Aiden asked.

“At school, don’t let me ever do your job for you again!” Cas snapped at Aiden, mad at the brothers that couldn’t even take proper care of their baby sister.

“Thank you.” Andrew said taking the sleeping girl from the boy, a knowing smile gracing a proud father’s mouth.

...

In the next few months, Aegis and Cas were on better terms with each other, they even made plans to play every day and a promise that Cas would teach her to swim during their ‘break’ from school. But today was different, an excited Aegis was going around spreading the good news, her parents didn’t have to continue working here and they could finally go ‘home’, she’d be leaving at the end of the month, when school closed - her promise with Cas out of mind.

Cas heard her talking about it, and furious, he ignored her like the plague, when the end of the month came for them to leave, Aegis had yet to talk with Cas, disappointed she had her parents wait almost an hour, hoping her ‘friend’ would come see her off, Ben stood waiting with them talking with her parents.

“Aegis, darling, we need to go.” Andrew said picking her up and into the car, she was seated at the very back with Aiden, lifting the seats Aaron and Valerie got in, her mother was almost seven months pregnant with their next baby sibling and so she let the car seat lean back for the extra comfort

“Cas…” She murmurred

“I’ll tell him you said bye.” Ben said through the little opened window.

“And visit!” She quickly added.

“And that you will come visit him, often.” He added and just like that the car drove off.

Cas hid behind the house, holding a little carved wooden box.

“Stupid girl, good riddance!” He growled.